English and French fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children’s books as well as translation award finalists vie for $450,000 in prize money

Finalists for the 2014 Governor General’s Literary Awards have been announced.

In a wide-ranging list that culls from across Canadian regions, the fiction finalists include Michael Crummey, who was expected to be among the major prize winners this fall for his latest novel, Sweetland, but failed to place on the Giller and Writers’ Trust lists; Thomas King for The Back of the Turtle; and Claire Holden Rothman for My October.

Left off the list — and now without the chance of a literary fiction prize trifecta — is Miriam Toews, author All My Puny Sorrows, who placed on the Giller and Writers’ Trust lists.

English Non-fiction finalists include Michael Harris for The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We’ve Lost in a World of Constant Connection; and Edmund Metatawabin with Alexandra Shimo for Up Ghost River: A Chief’s Journey through the Turbulent Waters of Native History.

“This year’s list of finalists contains powerful novels and poems, imaginative children’s books, skillful translations, entrancing dramas and enlightening non-fiction,” said Canada Council Director and CEO, Simon Brault. “They are all meaningful books in which we can, as readers and Canadians, lose ourselves and find ourselves.”

The Canada Council for the Arts funds, administers and promotes the awards — Canada’s oldest — with a total value of $450,000. The winner in each of the seven categories will receive $25,000. The publisher of each winning book will receive $3,000 to support promotional activities. Non-winning finalists each receive $1,000.

Gov. Gen. David Johnston will present the awards on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Maria Mutch (North Kingstown, R.I.), Know the Night: A Memoir of Survival in the Small Hours (Alfred A. Knopf Canada)

The announcement was meant to be made digitally on the Canada Council’s website, but early glitches due to overwhelming demand delayed the live broadcast by Brault. Organizers will, however, be updating with information and interactive features at canadacouncil.ca.